Shoe-fastener.



ments in shoe fasteners and has relation ANTONIOA D. FnAscoLA, or EL RENO, OKLAHOMA.

mesma. i p

Spcification of Letters Patent.

SHOE-FASTENER.

Patented il une lll, lille.,

Application filed March 31,1917. SerialNo. 158,927.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that LANTONIO D. FRAsooLA, a citizen of the United States, `residing at El Reno, in `thecounty of Canadian and vState of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Shoe-Fasteners, of-which the following is alspecifi'cation, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto certain improvemore particularly toa device of this general character of a pull type; andit is a `1 object of the invention to provide, a novel and improved shoe fastener wherein the lace or string engages the flaps or margins of the lace opening in aplane substantially p arallelf thereto instead of being disposed. transf versely therethrough.

The invention also has for an object to provide a fastener of this general character wherein a supplemental lace coacts with the main lace and which is engageable therewith when the shoe is loosened and which serves to afford means whereby the requisite pull may be imparted to the main string or lace for tightening the shoe.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im- ;proved shoe fastener whereby -certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a view in side elevation of a shoe having a fastening means applied there to constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; with the lace or string omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the supplemental lace or string and the adjacent end portions of the main lace or string with which the same is adapted to coast..

lVhile I disclose in Fig. 1 a shoe wherein the lace opening is in a side of the upper, I wish it to be understoodI that I do not desire to limit myself to any particular part of the upper in which said opening is arranged.

Asherein disclosed, each of the flaps or marginal portions 1 of the lace opening of the shoe have disposed longitudinally thereof a supplemental flap 2 suitably secured l along its inner longitudinal margin to the shoe top by the stitching 3 or other suitable means. The Outer or free longitudinal niargins of the Haps l and 2 are maintained in predetermined spaced relation through the medium of the interposed studs 4 arranged in predetermined longitudinal spaced relai tion.

, stud 4 is preferably hollow whereby it will be perceived that by expanding the end portions of said stud 4, the eyelets 6 may be maintained in requisite clamping position.

L denotes a main lace or string which is disposed around the studs 4 arranged at opposite sides of the lace opening so that said lace or string may readily serve to contract the lace opening in the top of the shoe. When the top is in open adjustment as indicated in Fig. l, it is to be noted that the free extremities of the lace or strin L will eX- pand below the upper edge of t e top.

In order that the lace or string L may be readily drawn around the upper studs 4, I employ the supplemental lace or string 7 of a gage less than the gage of the lace or string L and preferably formed of gut. One end of saidsupplemental lace or string 7 is provided with an eyelet S'adapted to be detachably engaged with the catch 9 carried by an end of the main lace or string L, while the opposite end of the supplemental lace or string 7 is provided with the catch l0 adapted to be engaged with the eyelet 11 carried by the second end of the main lace or string L. The coacting eyes 8 and 1l and catches 9 and 10 result in a positive connection of the .extremities 0f the .lace L and the sur pleniental lace or string 7 so that the pull imposed upon the string 7 is transmitted to the lace L.

The supplemental lace or string 7 is adapted to be engaged With the ends of the main lace or string L before the lace openying is pulled open so that the supplemental lace or string will readily pass around the studs 4l. When it is desired to lace the shoe it is only necessary to impose a pull upon the supplemental lace or string 7 to cause the main lace or string L to properly engage all of the studs. in accordance With the desires of the wearer,

the supplemental lace or string 7 is disconnected therefrom and the free end portions of the lace or string L tied in a conventional manner.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a shoe fastener constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility With Which it may be assembled, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for After the shoe has been laced y it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification Without material departure from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parte herein shown in oarrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

As an article of manufacture, a shoe string comprising tWo separable sections, one of said sections being of a gage less than the secondsection, a catch secured to an eXtremity of each` of the sections, an eyelet secured t0 the opposite extremity of each of the sections, the catch and eyelet of one section interlocking the eye and catch of the second section. i

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ANTONIO D. FRASOOLA.

Witnesses:

A. A. Prrivnr, NELL POOLE.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

